This weekend we had great fun around the compound, as we call it. It was such a pretty day and my husband John was out working on the family Muscadine vine, pruning it back and fixing the posts, they have gotten mighty wobbly. My parents planted the vine about 14 years ago when they first moved up here and this is the first time it’s ever been cut back. Here’s a picture of my husband with his two helpers, my son Michael and his daughter Tori.

Michael, John and Tori. Pruning the Muscadine Vine.

While they were doing all this, and I was documenting it with my camera, my brother John Higginbotham buzzed us in his helicopter. Totally unplanned, but I ended up getting some great shots of his helicopter.

John Higginbotham in his helicopter.

Back to the vine, I asked the kids to take a moment to pose for me, and while they usually hate getting pictures taken, it was better than working right??

Michael and Tori

Then, I noticed Tori was really posing for me which is unusual for her, she absolutely hates getting her photo taken. I asked her about her posing, and she replied, “I can’t help it that I watch Top Model.”

Tori, the next Top Model

So, much to my husbands dismay, I took the kids away from him, and we went to have fun, leaving poor hobo behind to work on the vine all by himself.

John working alone on the vine.

The next stop for the kids and I is the bale of hay in my brother and sister-in-law’s front yard. Michael the dare devil, afraid of nothing, decides to jump, and of course I am right there to catch the action.

And the jump begins.

Pushing off.

Here is the crouching dragon, hidden tiger sort of jump according to my older son I showed the picture too.

The Landing. Great form Son!

Now Tori wants a piece of the action, but she is scared, so Michael being the gentlemen he can be sometimes, decides he will hold her hand through the process, even if he has to drag her along. I’m still not clear on how thankful she was about this moment in her life.

Don't worry Tori, Michael is here for you!

Come on Tori, there's no backing out now!

I'll never let go Tori!! You can count on me!

Tori and Michael, still friends after the jump.

Then my brother John decided to buzz us again with the helicopter, so here he is again.

John Higginbotham in his helicopter.

Then somehow I convinced my nephew William Higginbotham to come out for a photo, and his nephew Ean Long was here for a visit so I got to get a really good shot of all the kids. Yes, William is Ean’s Uncle. I love it!

Coming for the photo shoot. John and Addie's house in the background.

Ean, Tori, Michael and William. I love these kids!! You can see my house in the background.

Then Tori, Michael, and I went and got the hobo, and we all went for a walk in the woods behind Mom and Dad’s house.

Tori and Michael just can't wait for us.

Escorting us to their "Camp Area"

My hobo decides to show me his brute strength.

Thank you honey, now I know how strong you are.

Tori at their "Camp Site." Please notice the shovel, and snacks. The two things they needed to get through the day.

Michael shows us he can climb a tree. A very brittle tree I might add. I made him get down. "Awwww Mom!!"

The only bit of color in all the woods. Pretty little daffodil all by it's lonesome.

Then we hear Pappaw start up the tractor, so all play must end. Sorry kids. Hobo has to load all the trimmings on the tractor.

Loading up the trimmings. Dad and Mom's house in the background.

Then as all men must do, they stand around and talk for a bit about the size of their equipment and what they want to do with it next.

Dad/Pappaw Rufus, and hobo John.

At the end of the day, we all had so much fun. The kids played almost all day in the woods and the highlight of their afternoon was finding a dead lizard with a blue eye. Yuck! Here is the Muscadine Vine, finished at the end of the day.

All trimmed up!

Here is a video that my brother John put together that he took from his helicopter when he was flying all around us. The pictures in the top left corner of it are the ones I took when he was flying by us.

I hope you all enjoyed your weekend as much as we did. It was a beautiful weekend and I had so much fun with the family. Since I haven’t had much time lately for genealogy, I decided to do this post so you could see what all we have been doing around here at the compound. I mean, before long, this will be our family history anyway right? Might as well document it.

Find a relative you are looking for? Contact me through the contact form on the left of the screen, and I will direct you to my Ancestry.com tree which has more information, such as photo's, documents, etc.

about.me

My name is Susie.

I'm a city slicking country girl raising boys and chickens. I confuse the dead and irritate the living by digging up our families past and telling their stories.